Development Milestones
Track your child's development with evidence-based milestones for ages 0-6 years.
Lifts head briefly when lying on tummy
Baby should be able to lift head for 1-2 seconds when placed on stomach. This is the beginning of neck muscle development.
Cries to communicate needs
Baby uses different types of cries to express hunger, discomfort, or tiredness. Parents learn to distinguish between different cries.
Holds head up at 45-degree angle
When on tummy, baby can lift and hold head steady at 45-degree angle for several seconds. Shows improved neck strength.
Makes cooing sounds
Baby begins making vowel sounds like "ooh" and "aah". This is the beginning of speech development.
Social smile (reciprocal smile)
Baby smiles in response to your smile or voice. This is different from reflexive smiling and shows social connection.
Tracks objects with eyes
Baby follows moving objects with eyes from side to side. This shows developing visual tracking ability.
Brings hands together
Baby discovers hands and brings them together in front of body. This is important for developing hand-eye coordination.
Responds to familiar voices
Baby shows recognition of parent's voice by becoming calm or alert. May smile when hearing familiar voice.
Recognizes parent/primary caregiver
Baby shows preference for familiar people, becomes calm when held by parent, watches parent's face intently.
Enjoys social interaction
Baby likes being talked to and played with. Shows enjoyment through smiles, coos, and body movements.
Shows interest in faces
Baby is fascinated by human faces, especially parent's face. Stares at faces for long periods.
Recognizes familiar objects
Baby shows recognition of familiar toys or objects like bottle. May become excited when seeing familiar object.
Rolls from tummy to back
Baby can roll from stomach to back position. This shows developing core strength and coordination.
Grasps rattle when placed in hand
Baby can grasp and hold a rattle or toy when placed in palm. Beginning of intentional grasping.
Laughs out loud
Baby laughs in response to play or funny sounds. Shows joy and pleasure through laughter.
Smiles spontaneously at people
Baby smiles at people without needing to be smiled at first. Shows social engagement.
Looks at hands with interest
Baby discovers hands and studies them with fascination. Important for body awareness.
Sits with support
Baby can sit up with support from pillows or when held. Cannot sit independently yet but has good head control.
Babbles using consonant sounds
Baby makes consonant-vowel combinations like "ba-ba", "ma-ma", "da-da". This is important speech milestone.
Enjoys playing and cries when play stops
Baby shows pleasure during play and protests when play ends. Shows understanding of interaction.
Explores objects by mouthing
Baby puts toys and objects in mouth to explore textures and shapes. This is normal sensory exploration.
Rolls both ways (front to back and back to front)
Baby can roll in both directions. Uses rolling to move around and explore.
Reaches for and grabs toys
Baby intentionally reaches out to grab toys or objects. Shows good hand-eye coordination.
Responds to own name
Baby turns head or shows response when name is called. Shows language comprehension developing.
Makes different sounds to express emotions
Baby uses different tones and sounds to show happiness, frustration, or excitement.
Developing stranger anxiety
Baby may cry or show distress when approached by unfamiliar people. This is normal social development.
Smiles at mirror image
Baby smiles and shows interest when seeing reflection in mirror. Beginning of self-awareness.
Passes toys from one hand to another
Baby transfers objects between hands. Shows developing coordination and planning.
Looks for dropped objects
Baby looks down when toy falls. Beginning of object permanence - understanding objects exist when not seen.
Understanding Milestones
What are Milestones?
Milestones are skills or behaviors that most children develop by a certain age.
When to be Concerned?
If your child hasn't reached milestones by the expected age, consult a healthcare provider.
How to Help?
Use our at-home strategies and activities to support your child's development.
Track Your Child's Progress
Create an account to track milestones and get personalized recommendations.